Mike Vrabel gets real on what the Patriots feel about the Christian Gonzalez situation

The New England Patriots had a complete turnaround last season to make a trip to the Super Bowl. A major part of that team was CB Christian Gonzalez, who is currently at loggerheads with the Patriots over a contract dispute.

Gonzalez and the franchise have not managed to agree on a deal throughout the offseason, due to the already expensive salary cap the Patriots have with the additions of A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs.

When asked by reporters if there would be an agreement reached by the game against the Seattle Seahawks on Wednesday, the player replied by saying, “I’m not sure, I don’t know.”

Coach Mike Vrabel opened up and spoke about the situation and its effect on the team.

Vrabel says Gonzalez situation hasn’t been a distraction

The Patriots defense ranked fourth in the NFL when it came to points allowed per game last season [18.8].

Gonzalez was pivotal in helping the Patriots achieve that, as he recorded 69 total tackles and 10 passes defended last season.

He had missed a part of the offseason training due to injury and his contract situation, but returned to practice last week.

Vrabel was asked if this whole situation caused any distraction to the team.

“No. When Christian was rehabbing, he was where he was supposed to be when he was supposed to be there. Talked about his professionalism. I can’t speak for the rest of the team and how they feel,” Vrabel said on WEEI’s The Greg Hill Show.

“From a coaching staff standpoint, it’s this: who is available each day, and we go about making a practice plan, or this is what the reps are going to be this day.

“We deal with all different kinds of things each and every day about who is available and who is not available. So I can only speak for myself, and it hasn’t been a distraction. I try to coach everybody that is here each and every day.”

Gonzalez’s expectation is of a contract that will make him the costliest CB’s in the league, but with the Patriots already spending money on the other stars in A.J. Brown, and with Drake Maye’s contract situation looming, the team were cautious in their approach to Gonzalez.

Devon Witherspoon, who is with the Seattle Seahawks was in the same draft class as Gonzalez. He was paid $132 million for four years, making him the richest CB in the league.

Gonzalez is as talented as Witherspoon, and will be hoping for something better than the Witherspoon deal. The team would be looking to find a solution before the Wednesday game against the Seahawks.

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